At Stanley High School, teachers cultivate an environment that goes far beyond a traditional workplace, creating a close-knit and supportive community where individuals feel valued both professionally and personally. Educators consistently uplift one another through significant life milestones—celebrating achievements, offering encouragement during challenges, and building lasting relationships that extend outside the classroom.
This strong sense of family is especially evident as many SHS teachers choose fostering and adoption to grow their families. In these journeys, the school system has shown a deep and ongoing commitment to support—not only for the educators, but also for the children they welcome into their homes. Faculty and staff often come together to provide resources, guidance, and emotional encouragement, ensuring that both parents and children feel supported every step of the way.
Third grade teacher Elizabeth McLellan’s journey in foster care reflects both the challenges and the deep sense of purpose that come with opening her home to children in need.
The Heart of Stanley
What made the difference was the community around her. She wasn’t the only one walking this path. Some of her colleagues were foster parents too, taking the same path to try and make a positive difference
“It has been such a blessing to have colleagues here that actually foster as well,” she shares, noting that those shared experiences create a bond that goes beyond the workplace and allows educators to uplift one another in ways others may not fully understand.
At the heart of their workplace was a belief that wasn’t just spoken, but lived: family comes first.
That support is rooted in something deeper than professional collaboration—it’s a reflection of Stanley’s culture. “Family comes first… and that’s not just something that’s said,” McCllelan explains. “Stanley sees us as a whole person… a caring community is not just something that’s said—it’s something you feel.”
Finding a Place to Call Home
In the beginning, the household consisted of two adults, with no children yet—only the anticipation of what their future might hold. For Brandy Bell, a Stanley High School graduate, the journey to building her family was not immediate or predictable. Over time, three boys— including Stanley students Sammy and Willie—became part of her family through a gradual process marked by extensive discussions, administrative steps, moments of uncertainty, and a sustained sense of hope.
Choosing to plant roots back in the Stanley community, Bell was drawn to the same supportive and positive environment that once shaped her own experience as a student. Within this close-knit setting, her children have found something meaningful—a sense of stability and belonging.
“My kids get to come out of their hectic environment and the chaos they came from to this small area to find support from the whole school and find a home that they love,” Bell shared.
Before joining her family, their world was often unpredictable and difficult to navigate. In contrast, Stanley’s smaller, more personal atmosphere has provided consistent structure and attentive care. Over time, the school has become more than just a place to learn—it is a place where they are known, supported, and truly at home.
A Calling to Care: Creating a Safe Place for Every Child
For Lakesha Simpson, a PK–3rd grade special education teacher at Stanley High School, fostering began with what she saw every day in her classroom—children carrying more than they should. “I wanted to be a safe place that a child can fall into,” she shared, describing the calling that has now shaped eight years of her life.
Over time, that calling has grown into something much larger. Simpson has welcomed dozens of children into her home, offering them stability, care, and the chance to simply be kids. “It’s a very hard and long process, but it’s very rewarding,” she said. “Kids come to you that just need some stability… and knowing that I can be that for them—that’s the reward.”
Among those children is her adopted daughter, Paisley, a current Stanley student whose journey reflects both the complexity and the beauty of adoption..
At Stanley, Simpson has not walked that journey alone. “From day one, when a child comes in, the teachers, administration, and staff jump in,” she said. “They ask, ‘What do you need?’… and they embrace the children.”
It’s that collective support that defines the Stanley community. “We make sure that no child is left feeling like an outsider,” Simpson added. “We really take the value of family to heart here.”
This shared dedication fosters a culture rooted in compassion, stability, and care. It creates an environment where students and staff alike benefit from a network of individuals who genuinely look out for one another. Stanley High School continues to strengthen its sense of unity, demonstrating how a supportive community can positively impact the lives of everyone it serves.